District administration, Bokaro has made it mandatory for people to wear masks in public places in a bid to check the spread of the novel coronavirus infection.
“I have issued orders with immediate effect. It is mandatory for every resident of the district, who is required to move out of the house due to urgent work, is required to wear a mask and comply with social distancing,” said Mukesh Kumar Deputy Commissioner Bokaro.
He said that if any person is found outside wearing masks and violating social distancing, then strict legal action will be taken against them. “If the mask is not available, self-made masks or towel and handkerchiefs etc. can also be used,” added Kumar. “All the office bearers and police officers of the district and the heads of all other public sector undertakings and private companies are requested to ensure strict compliance in their establishments as well as in their areas even at their own level,” said the DC.
Appealing to masses to stay indoors and follow the lockdown strictly to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Kumar said people should venture out only in cases of emergency and to purchase essential commodities. “They should return home as soon as the purchase is done and not linger on roads,” he added.
“Police can now arrest anyone found outside without a good reason,” he said.
Anybody flouting the order will be warned by the police. However, the decision regarding levying penalty on violators is yet to be taken, said the official.
Those found violating the instructions will be punishable under disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant of the IPC and the police authorities are empowered to take action against the violators, said an official.
Notably, Bokaro that has become coronavirus hotspots, witnessed a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the past few days and the total number of such cases rose to 9 and one death in the district till Tuesday.
A total of 133 reports has been received after investigation, out of which 124 cases are negative. There have been a total of 9 positive cases by adding one case on Tuesday, said AK Pathak Civil Surgeon Bokaro.
All of the patients who tested positive are having someway links with the religious gathering at the Markaz at Nizamuddin; either they have joined or having any kind of physical contact or link with such persons who have joined the religious gathering, he said.
Over 5347 people rushed from outside of the district are kept in-home quarantine. Though the administration identified over 300 people who rushed here from other different districts and were found hiding in their homes; all of them were sent to quarantine center, informed Pathak.